Compare towns
Townsend vs White River Junction vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Townsend | White River Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
3,364 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Townsend and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | — |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.